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Town of Greece v. Galloway

What's at stake

The continuation of the public prayer tradition that began with our founding

The freedom of community volunteers to pray according to their faith in a public setting without censorship

The preservation of freedom of speech in the face of one "offended" person’s demands for censorship

The foundational American principle of freedom of religion

Summary

Like many other towns in America, the people of Greece, New York begin public meetings with a prayer. Asking God’s blessing on public meetings is a cherished American tradition that began more than 225 years ago. However in 2008, Americans United for Separation of Church and State sued the town of Greece on behalf of two local residents. They claimed the town violated the Constitution because many of the citizens who volunteered choose to say Christian prayers and demanded that the town censor the prayers to eliminate distinctly Christian prayers. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the town’s practice. The Court affirmed that Americans remain free to deliver uncensored prayers at public meetings.

Our role in this case

Alliance Defending Freedom, along with Allied Attorneys, represented the Town of Greece from the trial level up through the U.S. Supreme Court.

Summary

In 2008, Americans United for Separation of Church and State sued the town of Greece on behalf of local residents Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, who claim that continued Christian prayer at the opening of town meetings is unconstitutional. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing the town argue that the practice of deliberative bodies to invoke divine guidance and blessings upon their work has always been constitutional.